Mike Folmer

Mike Folmer
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 48th district
Assumed office
January 2, 2007
Preceded by David Brightbill
Personal details
Born Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Sheila Folmer
Residence Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Website Pennsylvania State Senator Michael Folmer

Michael "Mike" Folmer of Lebanon, Pennsylvania is a Pennsylvania State Senator who represents the 48th Senate district, which includes all of Lebanon County and portions of Dauphin and York Counties. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

Folmer was born and raised in the city of Lebanon.

After graduating from Lebanon Senior High School in 1974, he attended Grace College (in Indiana) where he majored in History with a minor in Biblical Studies and Philosophy and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. He returned to the Lebanon Valley where he resumed work with family business.

Folmer married his wife, Sheila, and witnessed the birth of his first child while he completed coursework at Grace College.

Public service

In 1986, Folmer was elected to Lebanon City Council as the Democrat candidate with the highest plurality of votes in a municipal election.

While on City Council, Folmer served as the Director of Public Safety, which included managing and enforcing the municipal codes. He trained with the city's volunteer firemen (1986 certification) and completed a course of fire service cost efficiency hosted by the state Department of Community Affairs (1987 certification). Fulfilling a term limits pledge, he left public service and held various jobs in the private sector.

Folmer is a member and Sunday school teacher at the Church of the Servant (Presbyterian Church in America).

In 2005, Folmer and other local concerned citizens organized the Constitutional Organization Of Lebanon (COOL) to help re-introduce to members and the community at large the fundamental principles which led to the creation of the US Constitution.

Pennsylvania senate

2006 Election

In 2006, Folmer, who was known through his campaign as "Citizen Mike", was one of several challengers whose campaigns were sparked by the 2005 legislative pay raise. Folmer's district was represented by David Brightbill, the Senate majority leader. Brightbill, along with Senate President pro tempore Robert Jubelirer took much of the criticism for the pay raise and were targeted by activists seeking to vote out legislators who supported it.[1]

His campaign's largest contributor was Bob Guzzardi,[2] however most of his funding came from small donations of individuals within his district.

On election day, Folmer overcame Brightbill's 20–1 fundraising advantage[3] of a million dollars to fifty thousand and won with over 63% of the vote.[4] Folmer went on to defeat Democrat John Liss in the general election with over 63% of the vote.[5]

2010 election

In the 2010 election, Mike Folmer was challenged by Democrat Jo Ellen Litz, one of Lebanon County's three County Commissioners. He was re-elected with over 72% of the vote.

In 2013, Folmer became the majority chair for the Pennsylvania Senate committee on education.[6]

2014 election

Folmer was unopposed and won the 2014 primary and general elections with 2,359 and 12,919 votes, respectively.[7][8]

In 2015, Folmer became the majority chair of the Pennsylvania Senate's State Government committee.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Tracie Mauriello and Tom Barnes, Republican Leaders Fall, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5/17/06
  2. ↑ Pidgeon, Dave (March 14, 2006). "Brightbill criticizes primary foe's poll". Intelligencer Journal. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
  3. ↑ Jason DeParle, G.O.P. Conservatives Topple Veteran State Lawmakers in Pennsylvania New York Times, 5/18/06
  4. ↑ May 2006 Primary Results, Pennsylvania Department of State Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ November 2006 General Election, Pennsylvania Department of State Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. 1 2 "Mike Folmer". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "2014 General Primary Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 20, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ "2014 General Election Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
David Brightbill		 Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 48th District
2007–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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